My Random Skyrim Stories

A Companion in the Thieves Guild (Farkas) 2

Moving quietly apparently made Farkas a little too slow because he didn't catch up to Briita and Brynjolf before they reached Brynjolf's private quarters... and a suddenly much more sober seeming Brynjolf shut and locked the door...
Farkas froze outside, debating what he should do... she had actually been wanting him to follow... right?
"Bryn, why did you lock that?" Farkas heard Briita ask from the other side of the door. She sounded exasperated, not uncomfortable or irritated...
"To keep your lover boy from interrupting us lass," Brynjolf said in a smooth voice, definitely not as drunk as he'd acted...
Farkas stood frozen in place as he heard Briita's heartbeat speed up...
"My...? Farkas...? Farkas isn't my... my lover..."
Farkas didn't think he'd ever heard her sound so flustered and he wasn't sure how that should make him feel...
"That's good to hear lass," Brynjolf replied...
At least Farkas knew exactly how he felt about the thief's smooth, sultry tone; he wanted to punch the door down and throw the man into the wall...
"Bryn, what are you d-mmpf—"
Farkas froze as he heard the pair kiss behind the door just as he was about to step forward and punch it down. He felt like he'd been punched in the stomach instead... the air was knocked out of his lungs... he couldn't breath... he couldn't move.
Had he really misread her that badly? Had she not wanted him to follow? Was he really as stupid people said?
But then the best sound Farkas could imagine in that moment met his ears...
"FUS!"
Britta shouted and Brynjolf was sent crashing across the room.
"Damn it Bryn! That wasn't an invitation!" Briita yelled angrily.
"Ow..." Brynjolf groaned.
"I meant Farkas is..." Briita trailed off with an angry sigh as the thief sounded like he struggled to get up.
Farkas felt his heart begin to race as he listened... what had she meant about him?
"Nevermind," she grumbled, "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression Bryn," she added a little calmer, "I appreciate your friendship, your expertise, and even your company, but that's it."
"Understood lass," Brynjolf groaned in a defeated sounding voice.
"Goodnight Bryn," Briita said with a growl that could rival Farkas's beast form, "I hope you're too drunk to remember this in the morning."
"Me too lass," Brynjolf muttered quietly.

Farkas could hear his own pulse pounding in his ears as the lock clicked and the angry Redguard slammed the door open. She froze when she saw him, staring up at him with wide eyes.
"Are you ok?" Farkas asked quickly, his voice coming out as a bit of a growl as he smelled Brynjolf.
"I... uh... yeah," she sighed. "I handled the problem," she added with a grumble. She glanced up at him, but looked down without meeting his eyes, and Farkas noticed her dark cheeks turning a shade darker... which made Farkas's heart speed up even more.
"What did you mean about me?" Farkas asked before he could lose his nerve.
"Oh uh... just... uh..." she stuttered, and Farkas raised his eyebrow hopefully... "I just meant that..." she looked down, "you..." she swallowed...
Farkas didn't think he'd ever heard her sound this nervous...
"You don't see me the same way Brynjolf does," she mumbled finally. She said it so quietly Farkas almost couldn't hear her... and she sounded... disappointed by that...?
Farkas's heart skipped.
"No," he shook his head.
Briita's eyes squeezed shut and she turned with a nod, but before she could step away Farkas reached out and grabbed her hand.
"I respect you too much to force myself on you like that..." he said sincerely.
Briita's face snapped back to his, her eyes wide in what looked like hopeful surprise, which gave Farkas a bit more confidence...
"I care about you much more than that," he added in a low tone.
She looked down to his hand holding hers and then back up into his eyes, blinking in surprise... "all this time," she whispered in disbelief, "you never tried anything... so I... I just thought I wasn't your type..."
"Gods no," Farkas breathed, "I was just raised with some honor. I'd've kissed you a while ago if I thought you wanted me to."
The smile that lit up her face at that was one of the most beautiful things Farkas thought he'd ever seen.
"Let's get out of this stinking cistern and clean up then," she said happily, "I think I'm done with thieving, but there might be something we need to do before we leave Riften..."
She didn't let go of his hand as they headed for the exit, and Farkas hoped desperately she was thinking of the same thing he was.